What’s in a Name?

The South China Sea is in the news a lot these days. We have had several stories about the recent tensions between China and Vietnam over the area. Some of our website visitors have objected to our use of the name “South China Sea.” Some write that the area is called East Sea. So, we ask, what’s in a name?

We use “South China Sea” because it is the internationally recognized name for the area. We want all our listeners to understand which area we are talking about in our reports. “East Sea” may be the name many Vietnamese use for the South China Sea. But “East Sea” is also the name Koreans use for an ocean area that is recognized internationally as the Sea of Japan.

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Confessions of an English Learner is a place for you to practice your writing and share the joys and pains of learning the language. We will post a weekly prompt, to give you a chance to practice your writing and to comment on others’ writing.